Gaia Guide: Description of Greylag Goose (species: Anser anser) Show field guides Distinguishing features The Greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the grey geese of the genus Anser. It has a rotund, bulky body, a thick and long neck, and a large head and bill. It has pink legs and feet, and an orange or pink bill. The plumage is greyish-brown, with a darker head and paler belly with variable black spots. Its plumage is patterned by the pale fringes of its feathers. It has a white line bordering its upper flanks. Its coverts are lightly coloured, contrasting with its darker flight feathers. Juveniles differ mostly in their lack of a black-speckled belly.

��(Wikipedia) Size From 74 cm to 91 cm (Length of specimen) Weight From 2.16 kg to 4.56 kg Wingspan From 147 cm to 180 cm (Length of specimen) Synonyms View the distribution based on Global Biodiversity Information Facility data Distribution and habitat preferences This species is found throughout the Old World, apparently breeding where suitable localities are to be found in many European countries, although it no longer breeds in southwestern Europe. Eastwards, it extends across Asia to China. In North America, there are both feral domestic geese, which are similar to greylags, and occasional vagrants. In Great Britain, their numbers had declined as a breeding bird, retreating north to breed wild only in the Outer Hebrides and the northern mainland of Scotland. However, during the 20th century, feral populations have been established elsewhere, and they have now re-colonised much of England. The breeding habitat is a variety of wetlands including marshes, lakes, and damp heather moors.

(Wikipedia) Confusing Domestic Geese Confusing Domestic Geese (and hybrids) Pictures taken with an Olympus D-450 or D-40 digital camera through a Swarovski HD80 or Swarovski AT80 spotting scope. All photos � Kevin and Jay McGowan, unless otherwise noted. Whenever I hear about a report of a Greater White-fronted Goose in upstate New York, I always want to hear a few details to assure that the observer (especially a novice observer) did not confuse a domestic goose. If you just look in most field guides and try to match plumage patterns, the only option for the following geese are White-fronted Goose. But they're not! Domestic Greylag Goose (Anser anser) The Greylag Goose, a native of northern and central Eurasia, has been domesticated and raised for meat for over 1,000 years. It can be white, completely gray (like the wild form), or somewhere in-between. Dozens of domestic breeds exist, with lots of variation in size and coloring.

(In some the coloring is sex-linked, with females having gray patches and the males always white!) These domestic greylag geese were present in the marina at Myers Pt., Lansing, NY on 24 Feb 2001, the same day a real Greater White-fronted Goose was off the south shore ( go here to see that bird). Notice the general similarity in pattern to White-front, but a completely different shape and size. Domestic geese are bred to be big and provide a lot of meat, hence they are very bulky. Their necks are thick, their bodies are very bulky with extreme bellies on land and a big butt on the water. Their bills tend to be thickened at the base behind the nostrils. Compare this face with a real Greater White-fronted Goose and you'll see a quite different profile. Domestic geese can be any color between completely gray (wild type) to completely white, but they are always big and blocky with a different bill shape. Domestic Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides) Another species of goose that has been domesticated is the Swan Goose, native to eastern Eurasia and sometimes called a Chinese goose.

A domestic swan goose usually has a large knob at the base of the bill (the wild form lacks this). It also can show a white patch behind the bill. It varies from wild type coloring (mostly gray with a dark line down the back of the otherwise white neck) to pure white. The following domestic goose was present in the Canada Goose flock off Stewart Park, Ithaca on 24 November 2000. Notice the white "front" behind the bill, but the bill is very swollen at the base. Occasionally you will find a domestic goose with a thin, more natural bill size, like this one we saw in the large Canada flock off of Union Springs, NY on 24 February 2001. Its head and bill could be easily confused with those of a Snow Goose, but again this is a large, blocky goose with a thick neck. Just to keep things confusing, geese hybridize too. This goose was also in the flock off Union Springs, NY on 24 February 2001. It obviously is of domestic ancestry (orange legs, thick neck), but looks like a cross with a Canada Goose (dark, Canada-shaped bill, back coloring).

This goose was present with the flock off Stewart Park, Ithaca, NY on 24 November 2000, and was associating with the domestic goose pictured above (Mom? sibling?). Its Canada Goose heritage is very apparent from the dark neck, facial pattern, and overall body pattern, but the white behind the bill and the long red bill itself point to a domestic goose parent. The following apparent hybrid geese were hatched and raised at Stewart Park, Ithaca, NY in the summer of 2002. The parents were clearly domestic geese, but it kind of looks like Mom was fooling around with a Canada Goose. These geese closely resemble the one seen in 2000 (above). This form appears to be rather common, at least in Upstate New York over the last few years. It closely resembles the "Greater White-fronted X Canada Goose hybrid" pictured in the Sibley Guide to Birds, but is probably far more frequently encountered than that presumably rare hybrid. Note that even within the family the offspring vary quite a bit. Three of the four had pink bills, but the fourth had a black one.

The amount of white behind the bill varied, as did the color of the breast and the extent of the dark neck. The family out for a stroll, 20 October 2002. Here is one of the young, still slightly downy on 17 August 2002. 22 October 2002. These pictures were taken 30 November 2003. The hybrid is still hanging out with its parents (the domestic goose; I don't know about the Canada). Compare those above two examples with these photos provided by Matt Victoria of a goose he photographed at Oswego, NY in September 2003. (Go to Matt's home page for more of his photos.) Here is another, rather different-looking presumed Canada X domestic goose hybrid, seen at Stewart Park, Ithaca, on 5 January 2002. The photos are lousy, but a bright pink bill can be seen (indicating domestic goose), along with a faint outline of the white face patch (suggesting Canada Goose?).

Greylag Goose - Anser anser - Details - Encyclopedia of Life Learn more about this article In the UK, greylag geese breed from the beginning of April to May, laying usually 5 – 8 eggs in a large nest amongst floating vegetation or hidden in reeds. The incubation period is about 28 days and, unlike many species of waterfowl, the male goose or gander stays with the family group. Geese, in fact, have a more cohesive family unit than ducks and both parents guard the goslings against attacks from other birds or predatory mammals. The greylag family continues to remain together throughout the year and will migrate from their wintering grounds as a group within a larger flock. Only when the adult birds are ready to establish a new breeding territory will the gander drive off the previous year's young birds. Geese are primarily grazing birds, although they also take grain, root crops and leafy vegetation. Geese have relatively short bills, and prefer pasture or meadows that are grazed by cattle or sheep. A flock of geese will work their away across the fields, nibbling the more nutritious growing shoots of the grass or cereal crop.

Grass, by itself, is not particularly high in nutrients, and geese have to eat almost continuously in order to gain any nourishment from it. To allow these bulky birds to be able to take-off in an emergency, they process this grass at a remarkable rate. The birds defecate almost continuously whilst grazing so that their gut is not weighed down with food and they can still make a quick getaway if danger threatens. © Wildscreen Learn more about this article Greylag geese are the wild ancestor of domesticated geese. They are noisy birds, gawking to each other as they fly in V-formation. Although it is now the most common grey goose breeding in the Netherlands, it was a very rare bird in 1970. Its name refers to the fact that it is the last bird to migrate (lags behind). Not only does the Netherlands serve as a winter home for most of its own nesting greylags, geese from Scandinavia or from the south also join in so that more than 250,000 greylag geese can be found in the winter.

© Copyright Ecomare Learn more about this article If you see a wild grey goose in the UK outside the winter months, it will almost certainly be a greylag. The only other 'wild' goose seen throughout the year, and the only one apart from the greylag to breed in Britain, is the Canada goose, an introduced species. The greylag is a big bird with broad wings, and looks heavy in flight. From a distance, the birds appear a uniform grey-brown but a closer view reveals more subtle tones of brown and grey. The birds also have barring on back, breast and neck. The underside of the tail is white. Birds from different parts of their range show slight variations in colouration. Siberian birds have a slightly lighter heads and paler fringes to the dark plumage on their backs. They also have bills which are pinker in colour than the orange bills of the European birds. Both subspecies, however, have dull pink feet and legs. Greylags are the ancestors of most domesticated geese, although the Chinese swan goose is descended from the wild swan goose found in eastern Asia.

© Wildscreen Learn more about this article Habitat and Ecology Behaviour This species is fully migratory although some populations in temperate regions are only sedentary (del Hoyo et al. 1992) or locally dispersive (Scott and Rose 1996), occasionally making irregular movements in very icy winters (del Hoyo et al. 1992). The species breeds from May or April in loose colonies (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Kear 2005a), after which flocks gather to undertake moult migrations to favoured areas (with good feeding opportunities and access to safe roosting sites) (Kear 2005a) to undergo a flightless moulting period lasting c.1 month (Scott and Rose 1996). The species is highly gregarious (Madge and Burn 1988, Kear 2005a) outside of the breeding season (Madge and Burn 1988), with large concentrations forming during the post-breeding moult and before the autumn migration (e.g. flocks of up to 25,000 individuals) (Scott and Rose 1996).

The species feeds diurnally, especially during the morning and evening, although non-breeding birds may also feed at night (Kear 2005a). It roosts at night and during the middle of the day on open water (Flint et al. 1984), and may fly to feeding areas more than 10 km away from roosting sites (Kear 2005a) (optimal distance 2-5 km away) (Vickery and Gill 1999). Habitat Breeding During the breeding season the species inhabits wetlands surrounded by fringing vegetation in open grassland (del Hoyo et al. 1992), sedge or heather moorland (Johnsgard 1978), arctic tundra, steppe or semi-desert from sea-level up to 2,300 m (Snow and Perrins 1998).

It nests near streams, saltmarshes (Kear 2005a), river flood-plains, reedy marshes, grassy bogs, damp meadows, reed-lined freshwater lakes and estuaries (Johnsgard 1978) close to potential feeding sites such as meadows, grasslands, stubble fields and newly sown cereal fields (Kear 2005a). It requires isolated islands (Kear 2005a) in lakes (Johnsgard 1978) or on along the coast (Kear 2005a) out of reach of land predators for nesting (Kear 2005a). In the autumn (before migration) the species also frequents agricultural land (e.g. sugar-beet, maize and cereal fields) (Kear 2005a). Non-breeding In the winter the species inhabits lowland farmland in open country (Madge and Burn 1988, del Hoyo et al. 1992), swamps (del Hoyo et al. 1992), lakes (Madge and Burn 1988, del Hoyo et al.

1992), reservoirs (Madge and Burn 1988), coastal lagoons (del Hoyo et al. 1992) and estuaries (Madge and Burn 1988). Diet The species is herbivorous, its diet consisting of grass (del Hoyo et al. 1992), the roots, shoots, leaves, stems, seedheads and fruits of other herbaceous marsh vegetation (Johnsgard 1978, del Hoyo et al. 1992), aquatic plants (Johnsgard 1978), and agricultural grain and potatoes (especially in the winter) (del Hoyo et al. 1992). Breeding site The nest is a shallow construction of plant matter (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Snow and Perrins 1998) placed among reedbeds, on the ground (del Hoyo et al.

1992), in or at the base of trees, under bushes or in sheltered hollows on isolated wooded islands on lakes or along coasts (Johnsgard 1978, Kear 2005a), as well as on rafts of vegetation in rivers (Snow and Perrins 1998). Although the species is only semi-colonial, nests may be concentrated within a small area (e.g. placed 11 m apart on small islands) (Johnsgard 1978). Management information On the Vejlerne nature reserve, Denmark, it was found that reedbeds left unharvested for 5-13 years supported the highest nesting densities of this species (Nyeland Kristiansen 1998). Low nesting densities were found in reedbeds in the first four years after reed cutting, and no nests were found in reedbeds cut in the year of study (shoot density may have been too low to provide adequate cover) or in reedbeds left uncut for sixteen years (reed stems may have been too dense) (Nyeland Kristiansen 1998).

Systems Play media Greylag geese, Texel , Netherlands (2009) The greylag goose (also spelled graylag in the United States) (Anser anser) is a bird with a wide range in the Old World . It is the type species of the genus Anser . It was in pre- Linnean times known as the wild goose ("Anser ferus"). This species is the ancestor of domesticated geese in Europe and North America. Flocks of feral birds derived from domesticated birds are widespread. The greylag goose is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds ( AEWA ) applies. Within science, the greylag goose is most notable as being the bird with which the ethologist Konrad Lorenz first did his major studies into the behavioural phenomenon of imprinting . Contents Description[ edit ] The greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the grey geese of the genus Anser. It has a rotund, bulky body, a thick and long neck, and a large head and bill. It has pink legs and feet, and an orange or pink bill.

[2] It is 74 to 91 centimetres (29 to 36 in) long with a wing length of 41.2 to 48 centimetres (16.2 to 18.9 in). It has a tail 6.2 to 6.9 centimetres (2.4 to 2.7 in), a bill of 6.4 to 6.9 centimetres (2.5 to 2.7 in) long, and a tarsus of 7.1 to 9.3 centimetres (2.8 to 3.7 in). It weighs 2.16 to 4.56 kilograms (4.8 to 10.1 lb), with a mean weight of around 3.3 kilograms (7.3 lb). The wingspan is 147 to 180 centimetres (58 to 71 in). [3] [4] [5] Males are generally larger than females, with the sexual dimorphism more pronounced in the eastern subspecies rubirostris, which is larger than the nominate subspecies on average.

[2] The plumage of the greylag goose is greyish-brown, with a darker head and paler belly with variable black spots. Its plumage is patterned by the pale fringes of its feathers. It has a white line bordering its upper flanks. Its coverts are lightly coloured, contrasting with its darker flight feathers. Juveniles differ mostly in their lack of a black-speckled belly. [2] [6] It has a loud cackling call, HOOOOOONK!, like the domestic goose. [2] Distribution and habitat[ edit ] This species is found throughout the Old World, apparently breeding where suitable localities are to be found in many European countries, although it no longer breeds in southwestern Europe. Eastwards, it extends across Asia to China. In North America, there are both feral domestic geese, which are similar to greylags, and occasional vagrants . [6] In Great Britain, their numbers had declined as a breeding bird, retreating north to breed wild only in the Outer Hebrides and the northern mainland of Scotland.

However, during the 20th century, feral populations have been established elsewhere, and they have now re-colonised much of England. These populations are increasingly coming into contact. [7] The breeding habitat is a variety of wetlands including marshes, lakes, and damp heather moors. In Norway, the number of greylag geese is estimated to have increased three- to fivefold during the last 15–20 years. As a consequence, farmers' problems caused by goose grazing on farmland has increased considerably. This problem is also evident for the pink-footed goose . Behaviour[ edit ] The geese are generally migratory , moving south or west in winter. Scottish breeders, some other populations in northwestern Europe, and feral flocks are largely resident. This species is one of the last to migrate, and the " lag " portion of its name is said to derive from this lagging behind other geese. [8] Greylag Goose Greylag Goose Domesticated Anser anser The Greylag Goose, Anser anser, is a bird with a wide range in the Old World. It is the type species of the genus Anser.

It was in pre-Linnean times known as the Wild Goose ("Anser ferus"). This species is the ancestor of domesticated geese in Europe and North America. Flocks of feral birds derived from domesticated birds are widespread. Interesting Information In North America, small populations of Greylag Geese descended from domesticated geese have become established, mostly in city parks and near humans. These geese usually exist as part of larger flocks of Canada Geese. The Greylag Goose can hybridize with the native Canada Goose, producing birds which, to say the least, can be puzzling to birders attempting to identify them. Within science, the greylag goose is most notable as being the bird with which the ethologist Konrad Lorenz first did his major studying into the behavioural phenomenon of imprinting.

This species is one of the last to migrate, and it is thought that "greaylag" signifies in English "late", "last", or "slow", as in laggard, a loiterer, or old terms such as lagman, the last man, lagteeth, the posterior molar or "wisdom" teeth (as the last to appear), and lagclock, a clock that is behind time. Thus the Greylag Goose is the grey goose, which in England when the name was given, was not strongly migratory but lagged behind the other wild goose species when they left for their northern breeding quarters. Description The greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the grey geese of the genus Anser, but is more lightly built and agile than its domestic relative. It has a rotund, bulky body, a thick and long neck, and a large head and bill. It has pink legs and feet, and an orange or pink bill with a white or brown nail (hard horny material at tip of upper mandible).

It is 74 to 91 centimetres (29 to 36 in) long with a wing length of 41.2 to 48 centimetres (16.2 to 18.9 in). It has a tail 6.2 to 6.9 centimetres (2.4 to 2.7 in), a bill of 6.4 to 6.9 centimetres (2.5 to 2.7 in) long, and a tarsus of 7.1 to 9.3 centimetres (2.8 to 3.7 in). It weighs 2.16 to 4.56 kilograms (4.8 to 10.1 lb), with a mean weight of around 3.3 kilograms (7.3 lb). The wingspan is 147 to 180 centimetres (58 to 71 in). Males are generally larger than females, with the sexual dimorphism more pronounced in the eastern subspecies rubirostris, which is larger than the nominate subspecies on average.

The plumage of the greylag goose is greyish-brown, with a darker head and paler breast and belly with a variable amount of black spotting. It has a pale grey fore-wing and rump which are noticeable when the bird is in flight or stretches its wings on the ground. It has a white line bordering its upper flanks, and its wing coverts are light-coloured, contrasting with its darker flight feathers. Its plumage is patterned by the pale fringes of the feathers. Juveniles differ mostly in their lack of black-speckling on the breast and belly and by their greyish legs. The greylag goose has a loud cackling call similar to that of the domestic goose, "aahng-ung-ung", uttered on the ground or in flight. There are various subtle variations used under different circumstances, and individual geese seem to be able to identify other known geese by their voices. The sound made by a flock of geese resembles the baying of hounds. Goslings chirp or whistle lightly, and adults hiss if threatened or angered.

Graylags - definition of graylags by The Free Dictionary Graylags - definition of graylags by The Free Dictionary Related to graylags: Anser anser grey·lag also gray·lag (grā′lăg′) n. A large gray Eurasian goose (Anser anser) having pinkish legs and feet and a pink to orangish bill. [Possibly grey + lag , lingering behind (obsolete), from its being the last of the geese to leave England on its annual migration.] greylag graylag goose n (Animals) a large grey Eurasian goose, Anser anser: the ancestor of many domestic breeds of goose [C18: from grey + lag1, from its migrating later than other species] ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: greylag [ˈgreɪˌlæg] n (also greylag goose) → oca cenerina Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: greylag goose References in periodicals archive ?

On an average day you will shoot 15 to 20 birds, but when the stars line up you can shoot a hundred graylags, a big goose up to 10 pounds. Copyright © 2003-2017 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Birds of The World: GEES BIRDS of THE WORLD WATERFOWL of The World The order Anseriformes contains about 150 living species of birds All species in the order are web-footed for efficient swimming and have a large wide bill with a specialized tongue that allows water to be sucked in the front of the bill. An array of plates traps food particles as the water is expelled out the sides of the bill. Not all species feed this way, some graze on plants and some also catch fish. Anseriformes has 3 familes, but almost all of the species belong to Anatidae.

Other species resemble the waterfowl of Anseriformes. Order Gaviiformes, Family Gaviidae: loons Order Gruiformes, Family Rallidae: coots, moorhens , crakes, rails Order Podicipediformes, Family Podicipedidae: grebes Geese Shelducks Geese The following genus comprise the true geese: Anser, Branta, and Chen. They are large, monogamous waterfowl. The Cape Barren Goose, Spur-winged Goose, and Magpie Goose are not true geese. Similary, many species termed goose actually belong to the shelduck subfamily. The closest relatives of the true geese are the swans of genus cygnus. Genus Anser The "grey" geese of genes Anser are closely related to the "black" geese in the genus Branta. Anser geese have pink or orange legs and feet; Branta geese have black or dark gray legs and feet. Goose, Bar-headed Anser indicus Found: North America (escaped captive), Asia The Bar-headed Goose should not be confused with any other geese because of its distinctive head.

Image by: 1) Noel Reynolds 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights 4) Dick - San Diego Zoo Goose, Bean Anser fabalis Found: Europe, Asia The Bean Goose is split by some into the Tiaga Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) and the Tunda Bean Goose (Anser serrirostris). It has brown wing coverts have white fringes; black bill with orange bank; orange legs, feet. Similar to: Pink-footed Goose . Bean Goose has orange bill-band, leg, feet. Pink-footed Goose has pink bill-band, legs, feet. Image by: 1, 2 - 7) Dick Daniels - the Central Zoo in Nepal 8) Dick - Birds of Eden , South Africa 9) Dick - Ranomafana, Madagascar The dark versions below might be swan geese. Goose, Greater White-fronted also White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons Found: North America, Europe, Asia The Greater White-fronted Goose has white front of face, grayish-brown upperparts, gray breast, pink bill, orange legs and feet. Similar to: Graylag Goose . Graylag Goose does not have white base to bill.

Graylag Goose is largest Anser goose. Similar to: Lesser White-fronted Goose . Lesser has a bright yellow eye-ring, are smaller in size than the Greater, and the white front extends to the crown of the head. 1) This bird has a faint yellow eye-ring, not to be confused with the brighter eye-ring of a Lesser White-fronted Goose. 1, 2, 5, 6) Tule Goose (Anser a. Elgasi) Goose, Greylag also Graylag Goose Anser anser Found: North America (escaped captive), Europe, Asia The Greylag Goose is grayish-brown. Its plumage is patterned by pale fringes of its feathers. The upperparts are darker than the underparts. It has white eye-ring, Similar to: Chinese Goose . The Chinese Goose is a domesticated goose. Similar to: Greater White-fronted Goose , Lesser White-fronted Goose . Graylag Goose is largest Anser goose. Graylag Goose does not have white base to bill.

Image by: 1) Alan D Wilson - Washington 2, 3) Dick Daniels - England 4, 5) Dick - Scotland 6) Dick - Virginia 6) Greylag / Domestic Goose hybrid Genus Branta The Branta geese can be distinguished from other geese by their legs and feet, which are black or very dark grey. Furthermore, they have black bills and large areas of black on the head and neck, Brant also Brent also Brant Goose Branta bernicla Found: North America, Europe, Asia The Brant has a black head and neck, white neck collar, gray-brown back and belly of varying darkness depending on the subspecies, white under-tail. 4) Dick on the Cape May, New Jersey ferry 6) Elaine Wilson - British Columbia 7) Cristiano Crolle - Texel, Holland Goose, Barnacle Branta leucopsis Found: North America (rare), Europe The Barnacle Goose has white forehead, cheeks, and throat; black top of head, neck, and breast; light gray belly, light-gray with dark bars back. Similar to: Canada Goose . Canada Goose has black face; Barnacle Goose has white face.

Image by: 1, 2) Tim Bowman , USFWS 3) Alan Vernon - California 4) Glen Tepke - California 4) Ridgeway's Cackling Goose 5) Len Blumin 5) Canada Goose with Cackling Geese Goose, Canada Branta canadensis Found: North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand (introduced) The Canada Goose has white "chinstrap", black face, tan underparts, brown back. Similar to: Barnacle Goose . Canada Goose has black face; Barnacle Goose has white face. Similar to: Cackling Goose . Cackling Goose is usually smaller than Canada Goose. Bill of Cackling Goose is proportionally smaller than bill of Canada Goose. Canada Goose has whiter breast. Cackling Goose only breeds in northern Canad and Alaska. Similar to: Nene . Canada Goose has black neck; most of Nene's neck is light colored.

Image by: 1) Alan D Wilson - Burnaby, British Columbia 2) Dick Daniels - New Hampshire 3) Dick - England 4, 5) Dick - North Carolina 6) Dick - New York 7, 8) Dick - New Jersey 9) Dick - California 10) Dick - New York Nene also Hawaiian Goose Branta sandvicensis Found: Hawaii The Nene Adult has black head, nape, bill, legs, and feet; buff cheeks; light neck with black diagonal stripes. Similar to: Canada Goose . Canada Goose has black neck; most of Nene's neck is light colored. 3) The Nene has a partially webbed foot. Goose, Red-breasted Branta ruficollis Found: Europe, Asia Distinctive - nothing else like it! Genus Chen The "white geese" are a small group of waterfowl which are united in the genus or subgenus Chen. They breed on subarctic areas of North America and around the Bering Strait, migrating south in winter. Many authorities place these species in the grey goose genus Anser.

Goose, Emperor Chen canagica Found: west North America (Alaska to northern California), Asia (northeast Siberia) Distinctive due to black fore-neck and white hind-neck. 1) Head stained oranged from iron-rich water. Goose, Ross's Chen rossii Found: North America The Ross's Goose is white except for black wing tips, small pink bill. There is a rare dark morph. Similar to: Snow Goose . Ross's Geese and Snow Geese look very similar and can comingle. To tell them apart, compare the bills. The base of the Ross's bill is much straighter than the Snow's. 6) Dark morph Goose, Snow Chen caerulescens Found: North America The Snow Goose is white except for black wing tips, small pink bill. There is a relatively common dark morph. Similar to: Ross's Goose . Ross's Geese and Snow Geese look very similar and can comingle. To tell them apart, compare the bills. The base of the Ross's bill is much straighter than the Snow's.

5) Dick - Sylvan Heights 6) Dick - Luray Caverns, Virginia 8) Alan D Wilson - New Mexico 1) Lesser Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens caerulescen ) Genus Nettapus The Pygmy geese are a group of very small "perching ducks" in the genus Nettapus which breed in the Old World tropics. They are the smallest of all waterfowl. There nearest relatives are unclear. Image by: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights 4) Charlie Wseterinrn - Botswana 5, 6) Dick - near De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa 5) Dick - near De Hoop 1, 2, 3, 4) Northern Spur-winged Goose (P. g. gambensis) 5 -8) Black Spur-winged Goose (P. g.

niger) Genus Sarkidiornis - 1 species Duck, Knob-billed also Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos Found: Asia, Africa, South America The Knob-billed Duck has white head speckled with dark spots, white underparts, glossy blue-black upperparts. The male has a black knob on the bill. In South America ( S. m. sylvicola) the male has dark flanks, the female has medium colored flanks. In the Old Workd (S. m. melanotos) the flanks are light colored. DNA analysis of the Knob-billed duck species suggests that it is a basal member of the Anatidae family. That is, the Knob-billed Duck does not have any close relatives. 1 - 6) Sarkidiornis m. sylvicola 1, 2) Male 3 - 6) Female 7 - 10) Sarkidiornis m.

melanotos 7, 8) Male 9, 10) Female SCREAMERs Family Anhimidae The screamers are a small family of birds related to ducks (family Anatidae), but more closely to the Magpie Goose which is the only species in family Anseranatidae. The three Anhimidae species occur only in South America, ranging from Venezuela to northern Argentina. The are so named for their loud calls. They are large, bulky birds, with a small downy head, long legs and large feet which are not webbed. They have large spurs on their wings which are used in fights over mates and territorial disputes[1]; these can break off in the breast of other screamers, and are regularly renewed. Unlike ducks they have a partial moult, and are able to fly throughout the year. They live in open areas and marshes with some grass and feed on water plants. Genus Anhima - 1 species Screamer, Horned Anhima cornuta Found: South America The Horned Screamer has dark gray upperparts, mottled gray and white neck, some mottling on otherwise dark gray head, white belly.

There is a thin horn-like projection on the head. Genus Chauna Screamer, Northern also Crested Screamer Chauna chavaria Found: South America The Northern Screamer has dark gray body, black neck, diagonal white band from back of head to chin, gray crown and forehead. Image by: 1) George Robert Gray 2) anthrotect Screamer, Southern also Crested Screamer Chauna torquata Found: South America The Southern Screamer has gray upperparts, head; black neck collar with white above; gray head; light gray underparts. Family Anseranatidae This family has only one Genus and that Genus has only one species - the Magpie Goose! This goose diverged from the other waterfowl tens of millions of years ago, Genus Anseranas - 1 species Greylag Goose (Anser anser) Diet / Feeding The Greylag Geese (Anser anser) - also simply known as Grey Geese - are large migratory geese with a wide range in the Old World.

The "lag" portion of the common name was derived from the fact that they are one of the last geese to migrate ("lagging behind other migrating geese "). Many farmyard geese were bred from Greylag Geese. The well-known behavioral scientist, Konrad Lorenz studied the phenomenon of imprinting on this species demonstrating that Greylag chicks would bond with / regard as parents whatever they laid their eyes on first after hatching. Recognized Races, Distribution and Identification Western Greylag Goose (Anser anser anser - Linnaeus, 1758) Range: Breed in Iceland, Scandinavia and Finland and migrate to the British Isles for the winter. ID: Medium brown goose with orange bill Eastern Greylag Goose (Anser anser rubrirostris - Swinhoe, 1871) Range: Breed in southeastern Europe, Asia Minor and USSR from the Urals east to Manchuria; migrate to northwest India, Burma and south China for the winter. ID: Light brown goose with pink-orange bill Range and Habitat Greylag Geese occur naturally in Eurasia, North Africa, Greenland, the Middle East, continental Asia and Japan.

They occasionally visit North America and have been introduced to the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). The geese are fully migratory, moving south or west for the winter. Some populations found in the temperate regions of northwestern Europe (i.e. Scotland) are largely resident (non-migratory), but may disperse locally making only irregular movements in particularly icy winters. After the breeding season, birds will undergo a complete simultaneous replacement of all their flight feathers, leaving them unable to fly for about a month - until the new flight feathers have grown in. The first ones to undergo this molt are typically non-breeding juveniles, non-nesting adults and adults whose nests have been destroyed. This molt typically lasts one month and during this time, they are particularly vulnerable to predation. Prior to this molt, large flocks will undertake molt migrations to areas that offer plenty of feeding opportunities and safe roosting sites. They occupy a wide variety of habitats associated with water in open country. Breeding Range Their breeding territories include many European countries. However, they no longer breed in southwestern Europe.

Breeding birds nest near streams, saltmarshes, river flood-plains, reedy marshes, grassy bogs, flooded grasslands, sedge or heather moorland, arctic tundra, steppe, semi-desert, reed-lined freshwater lakes, and estuaries, or on isolated islands. Nests are typically situated near feeding sites, such as meadows, open grasslands, stubble fields and newly sown cereal fields. In the autumn (before migration), they also frequent agricultural land (such as sugar-beet, maize and cereal fields). They occur from sea-level up to 7,500 feet or 2,300 meters. Wintering Range After the breeding season is completed, large groups of them (up to 25,000 birds) migrate to their wintering ranges. Icelandic populations winter in Scotland. Scandinavian populations mostly winter in France and Spain. Central and southern European populations winter around the Mediterranean. They winter on lowland farmland in open country, marshes, swamps, lakes, reservoirs, coastal lagoons, flooded grasslands and estuaries.

Native Range Greylag Geese occur naturally in the following countries (in alphabetical order) (According to BirdLife International - 2004), Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Argentina; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belgium; Bhutan; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; China; Croatia; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Faroe Islands; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Greenland; Hungary; Iceland; India; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Korea, Republic of; Kyrgyzstan; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova, Republic of; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Myanmar; Nepal; Netherlands; Norway; Pakistan; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sri Lanka; Sweden; Switzerland; Syrian Arab Republic; Tajikistan; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Uzbekistan; Viet Nam. Alternate (Global) Names Albanian: pata e egër ... Arabic: الإوز الرمادي, الإوز الرمادي وز ...

Armenian: [Mokhraguyn Sug ], Մոխրագույն Սագ ... Azerbaijani: Boz qaş, Boz qaz ... Basque: antzara hankagorrizta, Oca vulgar ... Bulgarian: siva g"ska, Сива гъска ... Chinese: [dà yàn], [hong-zui yan], [huáng-zuǐ huī é], [hui yan], [hui-yao yan], [sha-e], [sha-yan], 大雁, 沙雁, 沙鹅, 灰 雁, 灰腰雁, 灰雁, 红嘴雁, 黄嘴灰鹅 ... Cornish: Gothwyls ... Croatian: divlja guska, Siva Guska ... Czech: Husa velká ... Danish: Grågås ... Dutch: Grauwe Gans ... German: Graugans ... Greek: china, Σταχτόχηνα, χήνα .... Finnish: Merihanhi ...

Faroese: grágás ... French: Oie cendrée .. Irish: ganso bravo, gé ghlas, Gé mhór fhionn ... Hebrew: אווז אפור, אוז אפור ... Hungarian: Nyári lúd ... Icelandic: Grágæs ... Italian: Oca selvatica ... Japanese: haiirogan, Haiiro-gan, ハイイロガン ... Korean: 회색기러기 ... Lithuanian: Pilkoji žaćsis, Pilkoji żąsis, pilkoji žasis, pilkoji žąsis ... Mongolian: Бор галуу ... Maltese: wiżża griża ... Northern Sami: Mearracuonji, ránesčuonjá ... Norwegian: Grågås ... Polish: (gęś) gęgawa, gegawa, gęgawa, gęgawa (gęś gęgawa), ges gegawa, Gęś gęgawa ... Portuguese: ganso bravo, Ganso-bravo, Ganso-comum ...

Romansh: auca grischa ... Romanian: gâsca de vara, gâscă de vară ... Russian: Sery Gus, seryj gus', Гусь серый, Серый гусь ... Scots: Geadh glas ... Slovak: hus divá ... Slovenian: siva gos, siva gosc ... Serbian: Divlja guska, Дивлја гуска, дивља гуска ... Sorbian: źiwa gus, dźiwje huso, šěra husyca ... Spanish: Ansar Comun, Ansar Común, Ánsar Común, Ganso común ... Swedish: Grågås ...Thai: ห่านเทาปากชมพู, ห่านเทาปากสีชมพู ... Turkmen: boz kaz ... Turkish: Boz kaz, Yaban Kazı ... Tuvinian: Бора кас ... Ukrainian: guska sira, гуска сіра, Сіра гуска ...

Vietnamese: Ngỗng trời Description Greylag Geese are large and bulky geese, measuring 30 - 35 inches (75 - 90 cm) in length, with a wing length of 16.2 - 18.9 inches (41.2 - 48 cm). The bill is about 2.5 - 2.7 inches (6.4 - 6.9 cm) long. Greylag Geese weigh between 6 - 8.4 pounds (2.7 - 3.8 kg). Males are generally larger than females, particularly so in the eastern subspecies rubirostris. The males weigh 7.7 - 8.4 pounds (3.5 - 3.8 kg) and females 6 - 6.8 pounds (2.7 - 3.1 kg). The plumage is mostly greyish-brown patterned by the pale fringes of its feathers. The head is darker and the belly paler with black spots. There is a white line bordering its upper flanks They have thick, long necks and large heads and bills.

The legs and feet are pink and the big, deep-based bills are orange or pink in color. Males and females look alike, except the male's larger size. Juveniles lack the black-speckled belly of the adult. Similar Species: Greylag Geese can usually be easily identified in the field; they are bigger, bulkier and paler than other grey geese . Their pink legs would rule out any species other than Pink-footed Goose . The Pink-footed Goose has a dark brown head and a much lighter neck. The White-fronted Goose has a characteristic white base along the beak. The Barnacle Goose has black on top and front with a white face. The Bent Goose is smaller and has a dark face with a small white collar in the neck. Calls / Vocalizations The Greylaggers Geese make loud cackling calls, kiYAAA-ga-ga, that sound very much like calls made by domestic geese . Breeding / Nesting Greylag Geese typically reach reproductive maturity when they are about two years old and commence breeding during the spring-summer breeding season of the third year.

The Eastern Greylags breed in loose colonies between April - May and the Western Greylags usually commence early May in Iceland and late April in Scotland. The nests are shallow construction of plant matter, with a depression in the middle that is lined with down and feathers. The nest is placed on the ground, among reed beds, at the base of trees, under bushes, in sheltered hollows, on isolated wooded islands on lakes or along the coasts, as well as on vegetation in rivers. They nests may be fairly concentrated within small areas. On small islands, for example, they were recorded to nest within 36 feet (11 meters) from each other. The average clutch consists of 4 - 6 white eggs, although as many as 10 - 12 can be laid. The young hatch after about 27 - 29 days. Captive Greylag Geese have hybridized with domestic geese. Wild Geese occasionally hybridize with escaped geese and with feral / hybrid greylag geese. In Germany and the Netherlands, feral Greylag Geese have adapted to living in urban wetlands and gravel pits, where they are mostly sedentary (non-migratory).

Diet / Feeding: Greylag Geese mostly feed during the morning and evening, although non-breeding birds may also feed at night. They consume wide variety of plant material, including grass, roots, shoots, leaves, stems, seed heads and sprouts and fruits of other herbaceous marsh vegetation, aquatic plants, and agricultural grain and potatoes (especially in the winter). Feeding Ducks and Geese ... We all enjoy waterfowl and many of us offer them food to encourage them to come over and stay around - and it works! Who doesn't like an easy meal! However, the foods that we traditionally feed them at local ponds are utterly unsuitable for them and are likely to cause health problems down the road. Also, there may be local laws against feeding this species of bird - so it's best to check on that rather than facing consequences at a later stage. Not a species of Concern Conservation Description The Greylag Goose has a large range with scattered populations in Iceland, northern and eastern Europe, the Caucus region, and northern, central, and eastern Asia. It winters in western and southern Europe, northern Africa, and parts of southern Asia.

This large goose breeds on islands in lakes or along isolated coastlines near wetlands, meadows, and grasslands. During the winter, it frequents farmland, bays, reservoirs, and estuaries.The Greylag Goose is believed to have a population large enough to not warrant its inclusion on the IUCN Red List and is therefore evaluated as Least Concern. IBIRD EXPLORER GENERAL posted on June 12, 2016 09:03 PM SUMMARY Overview Greylag Goose: Goose with grey-brown upperparts and paler grey underparts with white belly and vent. Pink-orange bill, pale streaking on neck, pale, faint barring below, pale edging to feathers on back and wings. Mostly white tail and blue-grey on upperwings in flight. Dull pink legs and feet. Range and Habitat Greylag Goose: Resident breeder and winter visitor in the UK. In coastal and lowland England feral flocks can be seen year round. Wild birds breed in northern Scotland and winter in lowland Scotland and coastal Ireland. They can be seen from autumn until spring on marshes, wet grasslands, and lakes.

SONGS AND CALLS Geese and Ducks (Anatidae) ORDER The ANSERIFORMES (pronounced an-ser-ih-FOR-meez), one of the oldest avian orders, is composed of three families and includes the bizarre and noisy screamers of South America, the odd Magpie Goose of Australia, and the globally distributed swans, geese, and ducks. FAMILY TAXONOMY The swans, geese, and ducks are grouped in the Anatidae (pronounced ah-NAH-tih-dee); a bird family with one hundred sixty-four species in forty-eight genera, various members of which can be found on all continents except Antarctica (IOC World Bird List, version 2.3). EUROPE The Anatidae are represented in Europe by fifty species in eighteen genera. Members of this well known bird family include the graceful, long-necked swans, familiar geese of farm fields, and the many species of ducks. KNOWN FOR While all species are known for their association with aquatic habitats, geese are also known for their aggressive behaviour when guarding their nests and young.

After the breeding season, Greylag Geese become better known for the “V" shaped flocks they form during migration. PHYSICAL Swans, geese, and ducks are large birds with long necks (longest in swans, shortest in ducks) and short tails. All species have webbed feet suited to their aquatic environments and distinctive flat bills – except for the mergansers with their thin, serrated bills ideally suited for catching and holding fish. COLORATION Although swans and geese are mostly white, brown, and black, many ducks showcase several shades of greys, browns, and blacks combined with fine barring and streaking to result in a variety of beautifully patterned plumages for which females of the species are well known. Males in breeding plumage are more boldly patterned and often have iridescent blue or green on the head. Both sexes usually show a spot of colour on the wing known as a “speculum". GEOGRAPHIC HABITAT Swans, geese, and ducks occur throughout Europe wherever aquatic habitats are found.

While geese and some ducks are often found along the shoreline, species that feed on underwater vegetation such as swans and dabbling ducks prefer calm water with depths suited to the length of their necks. In deeper waters, the mergansers, scoters, and diving ducks occur. Boldly-patterned Harlequin Ducks swim in the swift rivers and turbulent seashores of Iceland. MIGRATION A highly migratory family, most species migrate to open, ice-free water in sheltered bays and marshes of coastal and southern Europe whereas the Garganey winters in sub-Saharan Africa. HABITS Members of the Anatidae flock together after breeding in large, multi-species groups at sites with good, safe foraging. At such sites, scoters, scaups, and other diving ducks dive for mussels in the deep sections while dabblers such as Gadwall and Northern Shovelers forage on the surface and in the shallows. On the shore, grazers such as geese and Widgeon forage on grass. CONSERVATION There are a few members of this family in Europe of conservation concern.

The Red-breasted Goose is listed as globally endangered because its entire population winters at very few sites and has sharply declined in recent years. The White-headed Duck is likewise an endangered species that is threatened by loss of the wetlands it requires and hybridization with the introduced Ruddy Duck. Inhabiting some of the same shallow marshes in Spain as the White-headed Duck, and thus also threatened by habitat loss, is the vulnerable Marbled Duck. INTERESTING FACTS The Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, and the Smew are often called “sawbills" in reference to the serrated edges of their thin bills that are adapted to catching fish. Regarding the well-known description of the sound made by a duck as a “quack," duck species in Europe also variously whistle, squeak, click, and grunt. TERMINOLOGY

Question: What colour are the feetand legs of a Greylag Goose?
Answer: PINK